Farm but no fowl: How Florida aquaculture is growing the economy
Florida’s aquaculture industry generates over $165 million in annual sales and supports jobs in rural and coastal areas. Recognized as agriculture since 1993, it plays a key role in food security, sustainability, and economic resilience. According to UF/IFAS professor Shirley Baker, aquaculture is similar to traditional farming but involves growing plants and animals underwater. Regulated by the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS), the industry produces around 1,500 varieties of aquatic products, including food fish, mollusks, plants, and ornamental species. With proper support, it can remain a strong economic and environmental contributor.
Ornamental fish are the cornerstone of Florida's aquaculture industry, generating over $57 million in 2023 and making Florida the top producer of pet fish in the U.S. About 95% of ornamental fish sold nationally come from Florida, with 90% being freshwater species. Farmers typically breed live-bearing fish in sterilized earthen ponds and harvest offspring with traps, while egg-laying fish are raised in hatcheries. As wild fish stocks decline, global demand for farmed seafood is rising—now supplying over 50% of seafood for human consumption. Aquaculture is essential to meeting this growing demand, according to UF/IFAS experts.
Florida's food fish aquaculture sector has seen remarkable growth, with sales increasing from $4 million in 2018 to $26 million in 2023—a 550% rise. Common food fish include tilapia, striped bass, cobia, pompano, and red drum, raised in systems ranging from fiberglass ponds to warehouse-scale recirculating tanks. Farms like Evans Farm in Pierson exemplify this growth, transitioning from cattle to fish farming with high-quality practices. In addition to food fish, mollusks are a major part of Florida aquaculture, with clams accounting for $32 million of the state's $43 million in mollusk sales in 2023.
Clam farming in Florida begins with tiny seed clams from hatcheries, which are first raised in nursery systems. Once they grow larger, they're moved to mesh bags submerged off the coast. Heath Davis of Cedar Key Seafarms, a major clam distributor, shifted from traditional fishing to clam farming in the 1990s. He compares the process to agriculture, leasing a 2-acre underwater plot from the state and harvesting clams like crops. This structured, farm-like approach marks a significant change from the unpredictability of wild fishing.
In November, the Florida Aquaculture Review Council released an updated Florida Aquaculture Plan, outlining key research and development priorities. The plan highlights Florida’s advantages—favorable climate, infrastructure, supportive regulations, and business environment—as positioning the state to lead U.S. aquaculture. However, it emphasizes the need for continued innovation to stay competitive. Heath Davis echoed this sentiment, noting that aquaculture is a major economic driver and could help meet the needs of Florida’s growing population. To learn more, head to Megan Winslow’s article https://news.ufl.edu/2025/03/florida-aquaculture-/